HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-042-1932_-_Urging_inclusion_of_Advance_Placement_African_American_Studies_Course_in_Florida_-_ARESOLUTION NO. 2023-042-1932
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA, URGING FLORIDA GOVERNOR
RON DESANTIS AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION TO RESCIND THE STATE OF FLORIDA’S
REJECTION OF THE INCLUSION OF THE ADVANCED
PLACEMENT AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES COURSE IN THE
FLORIDA COURSE CODE DIRECTORY AND INSTRUCTIONAL
PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENTS; PROVIDING FOR
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK; PROVIDING FOR THE
ADOPTION OF REPRESENTATIONS; PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Advanced Placement (“AP”) Program is administered by the
College Board and consists of college-level courses referred to as AP Courses, and
WHEREAS, AP courses are rigorous high school courses that may count for
college credit in addition to high school credit, upon the successful completion of the
appropriate AP exam, and
WHEREAS, AP courses are designed to bring the college experience to high
school students to earn college credits and to build confidence and to learn the essential
time-management and study skills that are in need for college and career success, and
WHEREAS, the AP curriculum for each of the diverse subjects is created for the
College Board by a panel of experts and college level educators in the specified academic
discipline, and
WHEREAS, in order for a high school course to have an AP designation, the
course must be audited by the College Board to ascertain that it satisfies the AP
curriculum, and
WHEREAS, for more than a decade, the AP Program worked alongside colleges,
universities, and secondary schools and drew from the expertise and experience of
college faculty and teachers across the country to create an AP course in African
American Studies, and
WHEREAS, the AP African American Studies course is an interdisciplinary course
that is designed to offer high school students an evidence-based introduction to African
American studies that reaches into a variety of fields, including literature, the arts and
humanities, political science, geography, and science to explore the vital contributions
and experience of African Americans, and
DocuSign Envelope ID: 75893F5B-B96F-47D7-81D6-75A8761E0268
Page 2 of 4
Resolution No. 2023-042-1932
WHEREAS, essentially the College Board’s AP African American Studies course
is designed to provide students with a solid understanding of how African Americans have
shaped America, its history laws, institutions, culture and arts, and
WHEREAS, the College Board’s proposed timeline for the nationwide
development of the African Studies course is as follows:
2022-23 First pilot at 60 schools across the country.
2023-24 Pilot expands to hundreds of additional schools.
2024-25 All Schools can begin offering AP African American Studies.
2024-25 First AP African American Studies Exams are administered.
WHEREAS, State Board of Education Rule 6A-1.09441, Florida Administrative
Code, provides that in order to receive funding through the Florida Education Finance
Program and for which a student may earn credit toward high school graduation the
course must listed in the “Course Code Directory” and Instructional Assignments for the
year in which the students is in membership, and
WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Education approved the following AP
Courses and Exams for inclusion in the Florida Course Code Directory and Instructional
Personnel Assignments that are similar to the AP African American Studies course (1):
1. AP European History – Study the cultural, economic, political, and social
developments that have shaped Europe form c. 1450 to the present. You’ll analyze
texts, visual sources, and other historical evidence and write essays expressing
historical arguments.
2. AP Chines Language and Culture – Develop your Mandarin Chinese language
skills and learn about Chinese culture. You’ll practice communication in Chinese
and You’ll engage with real-life materials such as newspaper articles, films, music,
and books.
3. AP French Language and Culture – Develop your French language skills and
learn about the cultures in French-speaking parts of the world. You’ll practice
communicating in French and study real-life materials such as newspaper articles,
films, music, and books.
4. AP German Language and Culture – Develop your German language skills and
learn about the cultures in German-speaking parts of the world. You’ll practice
communicating in German and study real-life materials such as newspaper
articles, films, music, and books.
5. AP Italian Language and Cultures – Develop your Italian language skills and
learn about the cultures in Italian-speaking parts of the world. You’ll practice
communicating in Italian and study real-life materials such as newspaper articles,
films, music, and books.
6. Japanese Language and Culture – Develop your Japanese language skills and
learn about Japanese culture. You’ll practice communicating in Japanese and
you’ll engage with real-life materials such as newspaper articles, films, music, and
books.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 75893F5B-B96F-47D7-81D6-75A8761E0268
Page 3 of 4
Resolution No. 2023-042-1932
7. AP Latin – Learn to read and analyze Latin literature as you explore ancient
Roman history and culture. You’ll translate passages from the writings of Vergil
and Caesar and examine them through class discussions, debates, and
presentations.
8. AP Spanish Language and Culture – Develop your Spanish language skills and
learn about the cultures in Spanish-speaking parts of the world. You’ll practice
communicating in Spanish and study real-life materials such as newspaper
articles, films, music, and books.
WHEREAS, on January 12 2023, despite the College Board’s decade long
development of the AP African American Studies course, the Florida Department of
Education notified the College Board Florida Partnership that it does not approve the
inclusion of the AP African American Studies course because the course is inexplicably
contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: ADOPTION OF REPRESENTATIONS: The foregoing Whereas
paragraphs are hereby ratified and confirmed as being true, and the same are hereby
made a specific part of this Resolution.
Section 2: EXPRESSION OF SUPPORT: The City Council of the City of Miami
Gardens denounces the Department of Education’s decision to reject the inclusion of the
College Board’s AP Advanced Placement African American Studies Course and hereby
urges Governor Ron DeSantis and the Department of Education to rescind their decision
and include the Course in the Florida Course Code Directory and Instructional Personnel
Assignments because of its academic value for all Florida high school students.
Section 3: INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK: The City Clerk is hereby
directs the Clerk to transmit an executed copy of this Resolution to the Office of Governor
Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Education.
Section 3: EFFECTIVE DATE: This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon
its final passage.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
GARDENS AT ITS REGULAR MEETING HELD ON APRIL 12, 2023.
________________________________
RODNEY HARRIS, MAYOR
DocuSign Envelope ID: 75893F5B-B96F-47D7-81D6-75A8761E0268
Page 4 of 4
Resolution No. 2023-042-1932
ATTEST:
________________________________
MARIO BATAILLE, CMC, CITY CLERK
PREPARED BY: SONJA KNIGHTON DICKENS, CITY ATTORNEY
SPONSORED BY: COUNCILWOMAN SHANNON CAMPBELL
Moved by: Councilwoman Leon
Seconded by: Councilwoman Julien
VOTE: 7-0
Mayor Harris Yes
Vice Mayor Wilson Yes
Councilwoman Campbell Yes
Councilwoman Ighodaro Yes
Councilwoman Julien Yes
Councilman Leon Yes
Councilwoman Stephens, III Yes
DocuSign Envelope ID: 75893F5B-B96F-47D7-81D6-75A8761E0268